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A glass that builds and heals itself

Nature Video 12 June 2024 The accidental discovery could be used to make lenses, or even as a glue. Researchers have discovered that a peptide, when mixed with water, can self assemble into a rigid glass. Peptides are chains of amino acids, like smaller versions of proteins, and they make for attractive chemical building blocks due to their ability to self-assemble into structures with unique properties. Normally these structures are crystalline in nature — not much use if you want a glassy material. Read the paper: A self-healing multispectral transparent adhesive peptide glass But while looking for something else entirely, a team of researchers discovered that a certain peptide will develop unusual bonds with water, allowing it to form into a glass-like structure. What’s more, the unique properties of this peptide glass allow it to self heal if cracked, and act as a strong adhesive between water-loving surfaces. Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science ne

self healing peptide
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Study findings do not automatically establish clinical benefit, safety, dosing, or suitability for an individual.

Nature Video 12 June 2024

The accidental discovery could be used to make lenses, or even as a glue.

Researchers have discovered that a peptide, when mixed with water, can self assemble into a rigid glass. Peptides are chains of amino acids, like smaller versions of proteins, and they make for attractive chemical building blocks due to their ability to self-assemble into structures with unique properties. Normally these structures are crystalline in nature — not much use if you want a glassy material.

Read the paper: A self-healing multispectral transparent adhesive peptide glass

But while looking for something else entirely, a team of researchers discovered that a certain peptide will develop unusual bonds with water, allowing it to form into a glass-like structure. What’s more, the unique properties of this peptide glass allow it to self heal if cracked, and act as a strong adhesive between water-loving surfaces.

Subscribe to Nature Briefing, an unmissable daily round-up of science news, opinion and analysis free in your inbox every weekday.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01750-w

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